The 12 least convincing British accents in movies

Movies are, at their core, a form of escapism, and there's nothing that ruins the illusion quite as quickly as a terrible accent. Especially when it's meant to be your accent. HOW VERY DARE THEY?

Here's to the most outlandish British brogues that made us sit up and say, "Whuh?"

1. Rebel Wilson – Bridesmaids

Poor Rebel was a victim of the American belief that Australian and British accents are the same, and everyone suffered.

2. Charlie Hunnam – Green Street

We're being especially tough on Charlie here because he is in fact British, and therefore has to work harder. There's nothing quite like having rhyming slang explained by a Geordie in his hybrid Cockney accent. And you can tell he's really trying...

3. Russell Brand – Rock of Ages

Russell Brand is British too, yes, but he definitely isn't a Brummie.

4. Anne Hathaway – One Day

Fair play to Anne Hathaway for attempting something other than the default, cut-glass English accent that no one outside of Kensington actually uses, but her Yorkshire accent is basically just the same thing with the occasional bizarre flourish thrown in to keep us on our toes.

5. Almost everyone – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

In their defence, most of the US cast don't even seem to be trying to deliver anything near a British (or, in Morgan Freeman's case... er... Moorish) accent. But that's okay in the end, as we all know Alan Rickman is the only reason to watch this '90s classic, and his accent is better than fine.

6. Dick Van Dyke – Mary Poppins

The most legendary bad movie accent of them all, so bad that it has its own blog. Van Dyke admitted – 50 years after the fact – that he "will never live it down". No indeed, Maori Parpens.

7. Keanu Reeves – Dracula

Poor Keanu. He'll never be mistaken for Laurence Olivier, sure, but he seemed to be in actual physical discomfort (or desperately needing the toilet) with every use of his infamously bad accent. It's painful to watch.

8. Josh Hartnett – Blow Dry

Like Anne Hathaway, Josh deserves credit for having a bash at something different, but his Yorkshire accent, sadly, would not even fool a Frenchman. 'Eck as like, etc.

9. William Hurt – Second Best

William Hurt's great. He's a good actor. He almost pulls off the auburn wig here. But can he do a Welsh accent? Good Lord above, no, he cannot.

10. Mel Gibson – Braveheart

"If this is your army, why does it go?"

Perhaps because they can't take any more of Mel's highlands-by-way-of-Wahroonga accent.